BUICK - The "Grand National" & "GNX" Story Part 2 of 3

I don't like too many 80s cars, but this is my favorite BY FAR. It's the only car I allow to be included with the "brute force" muscle cars of the 60s and early 70s. I enjoyed working on them and driving them when I started as a tech at a Buick dealer in 1991, in Arlington TX. Too bad Pontiac and Olds didn't also make their own version of this the same way Buick made theirs.---Buick made a V6 from wacking 2 cylinders off their great V8, while letting the turbo and PERFECT computerized spark/fuel control "get back" the lost power of the 2 cylinders, AND retaining V6 fuel economy!--(these cars could get in the high 20s low 30s on the hwy). Since this is EXACTLY a Buick V8 with 2 cylinders wacked off, and since it is a 90 degree V (like a V8) unlike many V6s, the result is a nice even power curve that does not lack low-end. It does not have near the low-end "turbo lag" as many Turbo POS's today that have to redline at 8500rpm before they make any power. In fact, in stock form these engines never need to see over 5000rpm.

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[ad356]

i have a 3.8 in my 87 bonneville. what is the difference between this engines? are they just about the same except the turbo? they were a good engine in just about every form. 3.8's are awesome

[1967PmdGto]

@ad356

I have a 225k 3800 (a 3.8 with a quick start crank sensor, and counterbalance shaft for perfect idle starting in 1988) in a 96 Bonneville, they ARE great engines. I could not believe the power and mpg when I first started working on/driving these at the Buick dealer in 1991 as a rookie mechanic, turbo or not. Yours has the same LOW compresion as a turbo. The cam & computer chip is slightly hotter, heads slightly better , BUT the main power difference is the turbo ....continued------->

[1967PmdGto]

Never say NEVER. Remember how gutless V6 carbureted engines were in the 80s? A few years earlier these engines were so doggy, I said they could NEVER have power. But they turned into a beast with a turbo & SFI injection. And they are still miled/detuned, you'll see some on YT running 9s with AC & streetable when souped up.

[1967PmdGto]

In GM school they told me the brass told them to tune this car down because they can't have a luxury Buick beating a Vette. They tuned it down and it still beat a Vette then! They are so detuned, that's why many of the regular GNs will run high 12s low 13s just by changing the chip!

[Motorfordtoyota]

GM needs to make a new gnx, reviving the 3.8 (maybe dohc, dfi) and twin turboing them.

[1967PmdGto]

So right. They could not "claim" enviormental/mpg reasons for not having this engine today (& IMPROVED). Back in the day GNs knocked off high 20s, maybe even 30mpg. I was a Texas smog inspector/tester. These often blew 25 HCs at idle. A new less powerful Chevy 350 at the time would blow about 215--close to failing, the state law/limit was 225. Honda 4 cyls blew about 15 HCs. Our Pontiac 4cyls were almost 200 HCs, not too clean considering it's a 4 banger & a Buick V6 is over twice the size!

[tta299]

the lc2 3.8 is diffrent than the non turbo engine better stuff on the inside

[Motorfordtoyota]

@cobraopts7 nah, it needs to stay true to its game. Just take the Camaro 3.6 and twin turbo it. Hell, then it would have more HP then the Camaro SS.

[cobraopts7]

@Motorfordtoyota ohno if anything it would be a v8 dohc aluminum with a turbo probly a small v8 like 5.0  that would be one hell of a car

[heartboy86]

low 14s in the early 80s,that is amazing